Community Foundation of Mendocino County announces 2014 Community Enrichment Grants

Six non-profit organizations from the Ukiah Valley region have been awarded over twenty thousand dollars from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County's 2014 Community Enrichment Grant Program. The grants will provide funding to youth services, arts, health care, and education.

"We had great applications from all over the county," stated Director of Grants and Programs Megan Barber Allende. "The grants to the Ukiah regions were well distributed across a broad spectrum of areas of interest." The grants come from the Community Endowment Fund, one of 140 funds the Community Foundation administers. "The Community Endowment Fund is undesignated, so we're able to provide funding in the areas where we see the greatest potential for impact and community enrichment. Our regional advisors help us determine the local priorities."

One project that will benefit is the Arbor Youth Resource Center. The Center is moving from its current location on Main Street to a new facility on State Street. "This new center will more than double our space and allow us to serve the increasing number of youth we see," stated Program Supervisor Stephanie Paige. "Every day we have forty to fifty disconnected youth come to us looking for everything from clothing, to help with their homework, to help with college applications. We can then also provide peer support and a linkage to mental health services when necessary." The Community Enrichment Grant will provide the funds to pay for flooring in the new Center. "We have no dedicated source of funding, so grants like this are extremely important to us," stated Paige.

The Community Foundation grants will also benefit health care. Local air ambulance CalSTAR will receive funding to purchase and install a new radio repeater and corresponding base station which will increase the safety and efficiency of service. The Redwood Empire Food Bank will be able to provide supplemental fresh protein and healthy produce to participants of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program in Ukiah and Willits.

Mendocino Ballet will receive funding to upgrade their computer and office systems. The Ukiah Community Concert Association will receive funds to provide master classes for high school students and increase participation in music education.

The Boys and Girls Club of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library will receive assistance with computer upgrades and maintenance to improve after school education opportunities and college preparation.

In addition to the six Ukiah Region grants, another twenty organizations throughout the County were awarded Community Enrichment grants. Susanne Norgard, Executive Director for the Community Foundation, notes, "When we established the Community Endowment Fund in 2004 with donations from people throughout our county, our goal was to have a flexible way of funding the important needs of the community as they change over time. The fund is now large enough to produce earnings that allow us to provide one hundred thousand dollars a year in grants to local causes." Ms. Norgard went on to explain that as the fund grows, so does the Community Foundation's ability to make grants. "Anyone can contribute to the fund, and it's a great way to give back to the community."

For more information how you can contribute to the Community Foundation's Community Enrichment Fund, go to www.communityfound.org or phone 468-9882.